"Costs for many of these products have risen and may continue to rise over the next nine months," said Wegmans spokesman Jo Natale. "If retail prices reflected the true cost of goods, it would mean an additional $350 to $400 annually for a family of four."

The United Nations said earlier this month that its world food price index rose in February to its highest level since 1990, when the Food and Agriculture Organization started tracking prices. The increase in food prices comes as bad weather in many parts of the world has decreased supply, while robust economic growth in emerging economies has driven demand.

In addition, rising energy prices could push grocery prices higher due to increased transportation costs. Oil prices have spiked this week amid political instability in the Middle East.

Other companies have been sounding alarm bells about rising commodity prices, while pledging to shield consumers who are still recovering from a deep recession.

Earlier this month, cereal maker Kellogg (K, Fortune 500) said that it has "implemented selective price increases to reflect higher input costs." Hershey's (HSY, Fortune 500), which is being hamstrung by high prices for cocoa and sugar, just lowered its earnings outlook for 2011.

Fast-food chains that operate in more than 30 locations nationwide are the sole target of a new rule in New York to hike their minimum wage to $15. But consumers and small business owners, as well as some employees, may be the ones to pay the price. More